Coinbase delisting 25 perpetual futures contracts, particularly those in ai, depin, gaming, and some layer-2 sectors, suggests a focus on liquidity and institutional interest. while this primarily impacts derivative markets for these specific tokens, it could lead to reduced trading volume and potentially lower prices for the affected altcoins in the short term as liquidity shifts.
Coinbase is a major exchange, and its decisions regarding contract listings are typically based on thorough market analysis and liquidity assessments. the announcement is clear and provides specific reasons for the delistings.
The impact is varied across different tokens. while some might see downward pressure due to reduced derivative options, others with strong fundamentals and spot market demand might remain unaffected or even see positive movement if liquidity is redirected to them. the overall market direction for these specific coins is therefore neutral, depending on their individual market conditions.
The immediate impact will be on the derivative trading of these contracts. the ripple effect on spot prices might be more short-lived as traders adjust their strategies and liquidity potentially flows to other, more liquid assets.
Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available. Read U.TODAY on Google News In a Friday announcement , Coinbase has delisted 25 perpetual futures contracts, and the pattern is sector-driven rather than random. The exchange settled all open positions using a 60-minute average index price before suspension, removing exposure to a cluster of tokens concentrated in high-volatility narratives. Advertisement Coinbase’s massive derivatives cleanup: Who got cut? A lot of the affected contracts are in the AI and data economy segment. IO, GRASS, PROVE and PROMPT are all connected to decentralized computing, data labeling and AI infrastructure. These tokens did well during the 2025 AI rally because of speculation, but derivatives liquidity has gotten thin as capital moved to larger caps. Another visible block comes from DePIN and infrastructure plays. HNT is all about decentralized wireless networks, and AR is for permanent data storage. Both sectors are still active, but it looks like their markets have not had a lot of open interest over time. HOT Stories Morning Crypto Report: Cardano Ecosystem Onboards USDC, SBI Ripple Asia and AWAJ Clarify XRP Ledger Strategic Roadmap, Bitcoin Turns 5 Years Old as $1 Trillion Asset Ripple Exec Reports Breakthrough in DC Crypto Meeting Gaming and meme exposure is also reduced. HMSTR, DEGEN, MEW and GIGA are high-beta community or gaming-driven categories, where derivatives volume tends to spike briefly and fade. Exchanges usually reassess these contracts when there is less funding activity. Advertisement As previously announced, we have suspended trading for the following perpetual futures. Any remaining open positions have been settled automatically using the final settlement noted. • EDGE-PERP - $0.092411 USDC • PROMPT-PERP - $0.04328 USDC • 1000SATS-PERP - $0.000011 USDC… — Coinbase Markets 🛡️ (@CoinbaseMarkets) February 20, 2026 Layer-2 and modular ecosystem tokens were also affected. BLAST, DYM, ZETA, Layer and MANTLE reflect scaling and interoperability narratives. As these ecosystems keep growing, their perpetual pairs did not meet Coinbase's liquidity requirements. You Might Also Like Fri, 02/20/2026 - 11:47 AI Agents Can Now Pay With XRP and RLUSD via x402 on XRP Ledger By Tomiwabold Olajide Advertisement Finally, smaller infrastructure names like FLOW, CRO, CGLD, and RSR were removed, showing that even well-known brands need to show that they have enough demand for derivatives, even if they do not have much of a spot presence. The changes suggest Coinbase is focusing its derivatives business on contracts with long-term institutional participation instead of on short-term, news-driven surges. When it comes to sectors, the exchange is reducing its exposure to AI microcaps, DePIN infrastructure, gaming memes and some L2 ecosystems, while maintaining a strong presence in larger, consistently traded markets. #Coinbase